Formed in 1863 by Takasugi Shinsaku in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, the Kiheitai militia consisted of 300 men, who came from all social classes, including farmers, merchants, samurai and others. Most were from Chōshū, but a few volunteers were from other domains. The Kiheitai was known for its discipline, and use of western-style weapons and military techniques. It was partly funded by the Chōshū domain, but gained the rest of its financial support through donations by wealthy merchants and farmers. Kiheitai followed a developing trend which had been spearheaded by the shogunate following the Convention of Kanagawa to form military units based on ability rather than hereditary social status. Shinsengumi, a Kyoto-based, pro-Tokugawa police force, was founded in the same year as Kiheitai, and was also composed of people from a broad variety of social classes.
On 16 August 1863, the Kyohoji incident, which involved the conflict between the Kiheitai and another Chōshū unit Senkitai (撰鋒隊) forces at the Kyohoji temple, leaving two people dead. The Kiheitai's inspecting officer Hikosuke Miyagi was forced to commit seppuku at the temple while Takasugi himself was held liable and was dismissed as the leader of the Kiheitai on 27 August, only about two months after its formation. The Kiheitai was taken over by Kawakami Yaichi and Taki Yataro as its second leaders. In October the Kiheitai was taken over again by Akane Taketo as the third leader with Yamagata Aritomo as the commander.
In February 1865, a Second Kiheitai was formed in the Suō Province with Kosuke Shirai as its first leader with Shūzō Sera as the commander.
As the military arm of the pro-reform faction within the Chōshū domain, the Kiheitai helped overthrow the pro-bakufu faction in the Chōshū civil war, repulsed the Second Chōshū expedition sent by the Tokugawa bakufu on 7 June 1866.
The Kiheitai was disbanded in 1868, with total enlistment of 622 men since 1863. The success of the socially mixed unit and its Western armaments and tactics was an important influence on the development of the Imperial Japanese Army, and on the later system of universal military conscription in Japan.
Other Usageedit
The forces defending Aizu-Wakamatsu during the Boshin War in 1868, and the forces of Saigō Takamori in the Satsuma rebellion in 1877 also used the term Kiheitai to describe themselves.
In popular cultureedit
The Kiheitai appeared in an expansion of Creative Assembly's Total War: Shogun 2, Fall of the Samurai as special units of the Choshu domain. They are featured as an elite unit, having below-par statistics with other late game elite infantry but requiring less money and time to recruit and maintain, and can be recruited on unlimited number unlike other elite units.
In Rurouni Kenshin the Kiheitai is seen in a number of flashbacks as the title character, Kenshin, was recruited into the force by Takasugi Shinsaku himself.
In Gintama the Kiheitai also appears as a terrorist faction led by Gintoki's old friend turned enemy, Shinsuke Takasugi, who is loosely based on Takasugi Shinsaku.
Huber, Thomas M.: The Revolutionary Origins of Modern Japan. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1981.
Craig, Albert M.: Chôshû in the Meiji Restoration. Lanham et al.: Lexington Books, 2000.
October 30, 2023
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Kiheitai news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Kiheitai 奇兵隊 Irregular Militia was a volunteer militia raised by Takasugi Shinsaku of the Chōshu domain during the Bakumatsu period of Japan Kiheitai奇兵隊Kiheitai Militia 1864 1866Active1863 1863 Disbanded1868 1868 CountryJapanAllegianceChōshu DomainTypeVolunteer MilitiaSize300 Total enlisted 622 EngagementsShimonoseki Campaign First Chōshu expedition Second Chōshu expedition Boshin WarTakasugi Shinsaku 1863 1863 Yamagata Aritomo 1863 1868 Contents 1 Background 2 Battles 3 Disband 4 Other Usage 5 In popular culture 6 ReferencesBackground editFormed in 1863 by Takasugi Shinsaku in Shimonoseki Yamaguchi Prefecture the Kiheitai militia consisted of 300 men who came from all social classes including farmers merchants samurai and others Most were from Chōshu but a few volunteers were from other domains The Kiheitai was known for its discipline and use of western style weapons and military techniques It was partly funded by the Chōshu domain but gained the rest of its financial support through donations by wealthy merchants and farmers Kiheitai followed a developing trend which had been spearheaded by the shogunate following the Convention of Kanagawa to form military units based on ability rather than hereditary social status Shinsengumi a Kyoto based pro Tokugawa police force was founded in the same year as Kiheitai and was also composed of people from a broad variety of social classes Battles editThe Kiheitai militia saw action in the Bombardment of Shimonoseki in June 1863 during which the fleets of Great Britain France the Netherlands and the United States fired upon the Chōshu port city of Shimonoseki and subsequently landed troops On 16 August 1863 the Kyohoji incident which involved the conflict between the Kiheitai and another Chōshu unit Senkitai 撰鋒隊 forces at the Kyohoji temple leaving two people dead The Kiheitai s inspecting officer Hikosuke Miyagi was forced to commit seppuku at the temple while Takasugi himself was held liable and was dismissed as the leader of the Kiheitai on 27 August only about two months after its formation The Kiheitai was taken over by Kawakami Yaichi and Taki Yataro as its second leaders In October the Kiheitai was taken over again by Akane Taketo as the third leader with Yamagata Aritomo as the commander In February 1865 a Second Kiheitai was formed in the Suō Province with Kosuke Shirai as its first leader with Shuzō Sera as the commander As the military arm of the pro reform faction within the Chōshu domain the Kiheitai helped overthrow the pro bakufu faction in the Chōshu civil war repulsed the Second Chōshu expedition sent by the Tokugawa bakufu on 7 June 1866 Takasugi died of tuberculosis on 17 May 1867 The Kiheitai militia played an important role in the Boshin War which led to the Meiji Restoration Disband editThe Kiheitai was disbanded in 1868 with total enlistment of 622 men since 1863 The success of the socially mixed unit and its Western armaments and tactics was an important influence on the development of the Imperial Japanese Army and on the later system of universal military conscription in Japan Other Usage editThe forces defending Aizu Wakamatsu during the Boshin War in 1868 and the forces of Saigō Takamori in the Satsuma rebellion in 1877 also used the term Kiheitai to describe themselves In popular culture editThe Kiheitai appeared in an expansion of Creative Assembly s Total War Shogun 2 Fall of the Samurai as special units of the Choshu domain They are featured as an elite unit having below par statistics with other late game elite infantry but requiring less money and time to recruit and maintain and can be recruited on unlimited number unlike other elite units In Rurouni Kenshin the Kiheitai is seen in a number of flashbacks as the title character Kenshin was recruited into the force by Takasugi Shinsaku himself In Gintama the Kiheitai also appears as a terrorist faction led by Gintoki s old friend turned enemy Shinsuke Takasugi who is loosely based on Takasugi Shinsaku References editThis article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations August 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message Huber Thomas M The Revolutionary Origins of Modern Japan Stanford California Stanford University Press 1981 Craig Albert M Choshu in the Meiji Restoration Lanham et al Lexington Books 2000 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kiheitai amp oldid 1132995704, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
